Content Comparison

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The 36-credit Fast Track is an accelerated degree program for the MS in Applied Data Science (MSADS), and students to complete as many as nine (9) graduate credits by the time their undergraduate degree is conferred.  Fast Track also gives students the option to enter the workforce after graduation and complete the remainder of the program online and/or part-time.  

Eligibility, Application Deadlines, and Fast-Track Timeline

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The choice between Business Analytics and Applied Data Science ultimately comes down to a student’s post-graduation career goals.  Data scientists have been ranked as Glassdoor’s No. 1 best job from 2016-2019, and they are critical to the success of any organization. As the data science field evolves, the demand for analytics skills continues to grow. Employers are actively seeking candidates with the advanced technical expertise to make data-driven decisions.  Many Data Science graduates pursue jobs in the engineering and IT field and more technical roles that manage large amounts of data, create visualizations, and design and deploy algorithms that support decision-making tools.  Business Analytics students desire greater business experience and specialized knowledge to lead their team or organization. They may work as business analysts or analytics managers, or they may need analytics knowledge to advance in marketing or accounting teams. In these roles, professionals extract data to explain trends, predict future performance, determine best approaches, and explain solutions to stakeholders. 

Courses and Curriculum

Both programs are STEM designated and 36-credit hours.

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• IST 649 M001 3 credits
• IST 719 M401 3 credits
• IST 722 M400 3 credits

Certificates of Advanced Study (C.A.S.)

The Certificates of Advanced Study at the iSchool are 15-credit graduate-level certificates that can be taken as stand-alone certificates or as part of a graduate degree program. With a little planning, students can receive both the M.S.A.D.S. and a C.A.S. from the iSchool with only two additional courses to complete the C.A.S. Students who consider an iSchool C.A.S. want to study the latest in information field trends, learn about emerging technologies, boost their workplace edge, freshen their resume, and keep current with changes in the profession.

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Data Application

Data applications are a big part of where our data-driven world is headed. They're how data science gets operationalized. They are how end-users - whether they're subject matter experts, business decision makers, or consumers - interact with data, big and small

Classes to take:

• MBC 638: Data Analysis and Decision Making
• ACC 652: Accounting Analytics
• MAR 653: Marketing Analytics
• FIN 654: Financial Analytics
• SCM 702: Principles of Management Science
  
  

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Syracuse University’s academic integrity policy and procedures are administered by the Academic Integrity Office (AIO) in the Division of Academic Affairs, and all schools and colleges. The AIO works with faculty, instructors, students, and staff to promote understanding of Syracuse University’s academic integrity policy and coordinate its administration. The office also maintains records of all academic integrity cases. Graduate students must open a summary of Syracuse University’s Academic Integrity expectations in MySlice twice a year and provide their electronic signature agreeing to uphold the AI policy.

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and related increases in remote work and online education, the University may modify the academic integrity procedures described in the Academic Integrity Policy so that suspected violations can be resolved as fairly and expeditiously as possible based on the unique characteristics of each case.   Regardless of any procedural modifications, which will be communicated to students in writing, students will continue to receive notice of their suspected violations, to have an opportunity to give their account of the case, and to have the option to contest the case outcome on appeal. The specific processes used to evaluate each case will depend on the characteristics of that case. These changes have been approved by the Vice Chancellor and Provost, as required on page 2 of this Academic Integrity Policy.

Academic Integrity Policy

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• No scholarships awarded to students by another school will transfer into the iSchool
• International students with a non-STEM visa who are coming into a STEM program, and international students who are transferring into a program with a higher or lower number of credits needed to graduate, must notify the Slutzker Center so that they can report the facts of their present situation to immigration services for potential visa adjustment
• Students may transfer a maximum of 6 credits of elective courses into the M.S.A.D.S. program from outside of the iSchool or Syracuse University.  Students who want to transfer in courses from other Universities are required to submit a Petition to Transfer Credits form. This will meet the six-credit transfer policy of the program and no more non-IST classes would be allowed.  Students who want to transfer in courses from outside of the iSchool but within SU are required to submit a Petition to Faculty form.  All classes being transferred in, whether from SU or outside of SU require a minimum grade of B, the course completed should be graduate level, and credits must have been earned within seven years of when the student graduates from the iSchool.  Petition forms can be found here: ischool.syr.edu/academics/advising/advising-forms/.

Graduate Degree and Graduation Requirements

Applying for Graduation

Please review the website for graduation requirements here: ischool.syr.edu/academics/advising/graduation-requirements/

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To ensure students are prepared for medical situations that could create barriers to their learning, SU requires full-time, matriculated graduate students to carry qualifying health insurance coverage. Through the SU Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP), eligible students have access to comprehensive health care coverage. All full-time, matriculated graduate students are eligible for SHIP. Once per academic year, eligible students must enroll in or waive out of the SHIP through their MySlice account. The SHIP is currently insured and administered by Aetna Student Health. This plan is ACA-compliant, provided by a U.S.-based insurer, and includes emergency and non-emergency coverage in the Syracuse area. For more information, visit healthinsurance.syr.edu, email healthinsurance@syr.edu or call 315.443.9019. The Student Health Insurance Office is located in suite 305 of the Barnes Center at The Arch

Religious Observances

SU recognizes the diversity of faiths represented in its campus community and supports and protects the rights of faculty, staff, and students to observe religious holy days according to their traditions. Under the policy, students are provided an opportunity to make up any examination, study, or work requirements that may be missed due to a religious observance, provided they notify their instructors no later than the end of the second week of classes. Student deadlines are posted in My Slice under Student Services/Enrollment/My Religious Observances/Add a Notification. For more information, visit policies.syr.edu/policies/university-governance-ethics-integrity-and-legal-compliance/religious-observances-policy/.

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Faculty Assistant Program

The FA program is currently on hold and information will be posted here when updated.

The faculty assistant program gives selected master's students the opportunity to work closely with faculty researchers and practitioners at the School of Information Studies. Faculty assistants (FAs) are chosen through an online matching process and students are notified if they were selected to work with a faculty member.   Students cannot be hired for these positions in advance of a semester, and positions are not guaranteed. Students should not email faculty to inquire about positions— the positions that are available will be posted through the online process, and hiring can only be done through that online application and selection process. Please be Please be aware that there are fewer positions than applicants, so it is important that students follow the guidelines carefully and hone their skills for self-presentation. International students are limited to 20 hours per week of paid work while in school, but they may work more than this during periods where school is not in session. You will be informed if SU records indicate that the work hours of an FA position for which you are hired will mean that you have a work hour total that exceeds this amount.  Details and complete application instructions can be found at ischool.syr.edu/academics/special-initiatives/faculty-assistant-program/will be updated here when the FA program and application process is active again.

Graduate Assistants (GAs)

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Scholarships for the M.S.A.D.S. program are available for the on-campus program only. At the graduate school level, financial aid is merit-based, unlike the need-based aid students may have received during their undergraduate studies. Graduate school aid is limited and highly competitive, and the majority of funds are given out during the initial admissions process. However, we do offer the opportunity for current, matriculated campus students to apply for merit-based aid throughout their studies, typically awarded in the form of tuition credits.  Students need to submit an online application each semester in order to be considered and are required to write a reflective essay prompt that reflects on work or other projects completed and how the work honors the iSchool values.  The pool of credits awarded each semester varies, as does the number of students who apply and are awarded. We cannot guarantee all students will receive an award.  Students cannot receive more than one scholarship or merit-based award in a given semester, and are required to maintain a 3.0 in order to receive and keep their award. Campus students can contact the M  Announcements when the scholarship application is live will be sent out to the program listservs each semester.  You can also contact the M.S.A.D.S. program manager for more information

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The iSchool educates students from more than 30 countries and all corners of the globe. We take pride in our rich diversity, which is reflected in the range of nationalities, experiences, and backgrounds of our students and faculty members, and the career opportunities available to our graduates. From faculty research to international study abroad experiences, global collaborations to alumni placement, the iSchool has a strong international presence to complement the extensive international network at Syracuse University.

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Center for International

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Services 

New students coming to SU for the first time may be filled with anxiety and questions about their first day. What should you bring? Who will meet you? How do you get to campus from the airport? For international students, SCIS CIS is the first and possibly most important place you will visit on campus. SCIS The CIS works closely with the Graduate School and all academic departments to assure that international graduate students enrolled at SU can achieve their academic objectives and become an integral part of the SU academic community.  SCIS’ CIS’ primary objective is to assist international students in maintaining compliance with U.S. immigration laws, and provides information and updates on immigration regulations, seminars on immigration topics, and walk-in appointments with an advisor. SCIS CIS is the place to go on campus if you have questions regarding curricular practical training (CPT), employment, health insurance, immigration regulations and status, optional practical training (OPT), passports, travel, the I-20, and visas. SCIS CIS staff is also the best resource for important check-in documents, information about different offices and points of contact around campus, and information about housing, banking, driving, taxes, and technology. If you have personal, social, academic, health, housing, or financial problems, the SCIS CIS staff offers advice and counseling. 

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The iSchool believes in teaching students the skills they need to be successful on the job market. We house our very own Career Services and Employer Relations team, assisting students across all of our programs in their career development by providing individual counseling, strategic job search resources, resume and interview preparation, and professional development events. The team also connects employers with the iSchool in numerous ways, from recruitment and internship opportunities to collaboration in curriculum development. While many career development programs are iSchool specific, we work with career service offices across SU so students can experience programming in many disciplines and with a diversity of potential employers. Students should follow and read their program listserv messages to hear about job and internship opportunities.  More information on iSchool Career Services can be found on our website: ischool.syr.edu/careers/career-services/.

Our Career Services staff  will be available remotely for individual career counseling appointments during the COVID-19 outbreak.  They will also host Career Services workshops and online events via Blackboard Collaborate. 

Drop-ins and Advising

iSchool campus students must make an appointment to meet with career services for one-on-one advising and in-house career advice. iSchool online students can contact the career services office at careerservices@ischoolonline.syr.edu.

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Representative companies include: Excellus BC/BS, O’Brien & Gere, IBM, Microsoft, Ernst & Young, Deloitte Consulting, Goldman Sachs, and start-ups.

Internships

M.S.A.D.S. students are not required to participate in an internship unlike graduate students enrolled in other iSchool Master’s degrees.  However, we recognize that education extends beyond the formal classroom and that such work does enhance a student’s ability to be able to work in the field.  Please read below for clarifications on how experiential learning work in the field can be applied to the M.S.A.D.S program, especially as it concerns International Students.  Domestic students may also elect to substitute an internship for a program elective, provided that they are not using current full-time work experience to do so.

M.S.A.D.S. students may elect to work in a degree-related employment experience by filing up to a maximum of three credits of IST971 to substitute for one program elective.  This is permissible only if the work is directly related to Data Science.  Registering for this CPT credit and being able to work, is subject to all the provisions governing work in the US by international students.  The official University policy on this can be found here: international.syr.edu/immigration-status/employment.html.  An international student must file for at least one credit of CPT for every semester/term that they are employed in this relevant experiential learning work.  If a student files for less than three credits of IST971, the first two credits cannot be substituted for an elective, and are considered additional to the program.  Only a total of three credits of IST971 can be directly substituted for a program elective course.  Substitution of IST971 for an elective in the M.S.A.D.S. program must be done by official petition.  Since IST971 may be taken in one-credit increments, petitions for program substitution for one M.S.A.D.S program elective course can only be approved once a total of three credits of IST971 have been earned.   Do not assume that a particular work situation will qualify for future program credit.  Please be sure you ask first before you commit to a work engagement that you intend to count toward the program.  If you have any additional questions about whether the work you wish to do will qualify, please contact your academic advisor.

CPT Recommendation Letters (International Students Only)

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The mission of the Center for Emerging Network Technologies, or CENT, is to understand the future of networking technologies, and to engage students, faculty and industry in the process of defining and shaping that future. Convergence refers to the power of digital media to provide unified communications and new applications, devices and networks involving voice, video, data, text and money. Emerging Network Technologies refers to the other economic and technological trends affecting networking, such as new architectures and protocols and new forms of wireless broadband access. The Center’s research is interdisciplinary and applied, focusing on the management and use of networks and communication as well as relevant public policy and industrial organization issues. The Center serves three distinct constituencies: 1.) It provides a platform for faculty research on digital convergence and networking, 2.) It provides experiential learning for graduate and advanced undergraduate student teams, and 3.) It serves as a mutually beneficial learning interface between the networking technology industries and the School of Information Studies.  For more information on projects in CENT, visit ischool.syr.edu/research/research-centers/center-for-emerging-network-technologies/ 

iConsult Collaborative

The iConsult Collaborative is a university-wide program to build experience for students through real-world client projects involving digital transformation. Student participants in iConsult form project teams representing needed specialty domains of the schools and colleges of the University. Each iConsult team works under the direction of faculty mentors and a student Project Leader who oversees the client relationship and the team’s deliverables. iConsult Project teams analyze, design, recommend, and apply known information tools and approaches to help clients integrate digital technology into their organizations.  In 2018, iConsult was revised and expanded into a University-wide program in collaboration with both corporate and community engagement partners and sponsors. This gives the opportunity to involve students from multiple schools and colleges within the University in cross-functional teams.  The iConsult Collaborative, as it is now known, builds upon its long-term foundation to work on a broad range of projects leading toward the digital transformation of its clients in several business sectors.  The iSchool directs and manages the iConsult Collaborative on behalf of the University.  For more information, visit ischool.syr.edu/careers/careerkickoff/iconsult/.

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